List of medical abbreviations: N

Sortable table
Abbreviation Meaning
Neutrophil
Na sodium (from Latin natrium)
NA negative appendectomy
NAAT Nucleic Acid Amplification Test
NABS normoactive bowel sounds
NAC n-acetyl cysteine
NaCl sodium chloride (saline)
NAD no abnormality detected
no apparent distress
no appreciable disease
(and many variations of the above)
NAD+ nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
NAFLD Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
NAI non-accidental injury (child abuse)
NAS no added salt
NASH Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
NB newborn (infant)
note well (please pay attention) (from Latin nota bene)
NBN newborn nursery
NBIA neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation
NBT nitroblue tetrazolium
NBTE nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis
NC nerve action potential
nasal cannula
NCAT Normocephalic, atraumatic; also written NC/AT
NCC noncompaction cardiomyopathy
NCEP National Cholesterol Education Program
NCS nerve conduction study
NCT nerve conduction test, aka nerve conduction study
NCV nerve conduction velocity (see nerve conduction study)
ND (examination) not done
NDI nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
NDSC National Decision Support Company
NE norepinephrine
Ne neutrophil granulocytes
NEAD Non-epileptic attack disorder
NEAP Net Endogenous Acid Production
NEC not elsewhere classified
necrotizing enterocolitis
NED No evidence of disease
Neg negative
Neo neoplasm
NES not elsewhere specified
NFR not for resuscitation
NG nasogastric
NGT
NG tube
nasogastric tube
NGTD negative to date / no growth to date
NGU nongonococcal urethritis
NH nursing home
NHL non-Hodgkin lymphoma
NHW non-healing wound
NICMP
NICM
non-ischemic cardiomyopathy
NICU neonatal intensive care unit
NIDDM non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
NIF Negative inspiratory force
NIH National Institutes of Health
NIPPV Nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation
NK
NK cells
natural killer cells
NKA no known allergies
NKDA no known drug allergies
NL normal
NLP no light perception (highest degree of blindness)
NM nuclear medicine
NMR nuclear magnetic resonance
NNH number needed to harm
NNT number needed to treat
NO nitric oxide
No. number
NOF neck of femur fracture (refers to hip fracture)
NOMI nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia
Non rep. do not repeat
NOS nitric oxide synthase;
not otherwise specified
NPA nasal pharyngeal aspirate
NPH normal pressure hydrocephalus
Npl neoplasm
NP Nurse Practitioner
NPC nasopharyngeal carcinoma
NPDR Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy
NPO nil per os (nothing by mouth)
NPPV noninvasive positive pressure ventilation
NPT neuropsychiatric testing
NPTAC no previous tracing available for comparison
NPV negative predictive value
NRB non-rebreather mask
NRBC nucleated red blood cells
NREM non–rapid eye movement
NRT nicotine replacement therapy
n.s. not significant
NS normal saline
NSA no significant abnormality
NSAID nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug
NSBB Non-selective beta blocker
NSCC Non-squamous-cell carcinoma
NSCLC non–small cell lung carcinoma
NSD normal spontaneous delivery (see childbirth)
NSE neurospecific enolase
NSIP Non-specific interstitial pneumonia
NSR normal sinus rhythm
NST non-stress test (see cardiotocograph)
NSTEMI non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction
NSU nonspecific urethritis
NSVD normal spontaneous vaginal delivery
NT not tested
nontender
nuchal translucency
NTBS needs to be seen
NTD neural tube defect
NTG nitroglycerin
n/t numbness and tingling
NTP Nortriptyline
NTS nucleus tractus solitarii, or Solitary nucleus
NTT nasotracheal tube (see intubation)
NTX N-telopeptide
nu in each nostril
N&V
n/v
nausea and vomiting
NVD normal vaginal delivery (see childbirth);
nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
NVDC nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation
NVI Neurovascularly Intact, Neurovascular Injury, Neurovascular Impairment
NVID Neurovascularly intact distally
NWB Non-weight-bearing
NYD Not yet diagnosed
NYHA New York Heart Association